Division I Women

Navy Stays Perfect with Win Over Davidson

from press release

ANNAPOLIS, Md.—Sophomore attack Jasmine
DePompeo (Sayville, N.Y.) scored a career-high five goals and
handed out two assists, while freshman attack Aimee Gennaro
(Havertown, Pa.) scored three goals and dished out three assists to
lead Navy (3-0) to a 15-5 victory over Davidson (0-2) on Sunday
afternoon at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.

“Coming off our big win on Friday night (9-8 over Ohio State)
I wanted to make sure we came out sharp today and for the most part
I think we did that,” said Navy head coach Cindy
Timchal. “Davidson beat us two years ago and last year
they had us down late in the game before we were able to rally to
win so I was pleased with the way we jumped on them
early.”

The Mids got off to the great start that Timchal was looking for by
scoring three goals in the first 6:32 as Gennaro, DePompeo and
senior attack Caitlin Mandrin Hill (Annapolis, Md.) all scored to
put the Mids on top for good. Navy made it 4-0 at 12:43
when Mandrin Hill scored her second goal of the game, this one off
an assist from DePompeo.

Davidson cut Navy’s lead to 4-1 with 11:26 left in the first
half when Erin Keitel scored on a free position goal. It was
the first free position goal that Navy had given up in 12
attempts.

After that goal, however, the Navy defense would hold the Wildcats
scoreless for the rest of the half while the Navy offense would
ring up five goals. DePompeo would score twice, freshman
midfielder Jill Coughlin (Annapolis, Md.) scored two goals, one off
an assist from DePompeo, and sophomore midfielder Kathy Young
(Berwyn, Pa.) scored her second goal of the season.

“Giving up just one goal in the first half was huge,”
said Timchal. “It allowed us to play a lot of people in
the second half and a coach always likes that.”

Junior goalie Elaina Ponchione (Silver Spring, Md.) was once again
stellar in goal for the Mids allowing just one goal and making
three first half saves two days after playing the best game of her
career against Ohio State (career-high 14 saves). Ponchione has a
4.89 goals against average and 27 saves (.711 save percentage) in
the first three games of the season.

“Elaina has been right on the money the first three
games,” said Timchal. “She is really growing into her
role. She is working really hard in practice, taking extra
instruction and watching a lot of film. I am really happy with the
way she has stepped up so far.”

Timchal played sophomore goalies Michelle Verbeeck (Wading River,
N.Y.) and Charlotte Hauser (Greenfield Center, N.Y.) in the second
half and the two combined for four saves.

The Mids took its biggest lead of the game with 13:58 left in the
contest when Gennaro scored an unassisted goal to make it 14-2 and
Timchal cleared the bench as every Mid that dressed got in the
game.

DePompeo, who scored 11 goals and handed out seven assists all last
year, now has 10 goals and six assists through the first three
games of the season as she leads the Mids in both categories.

“We’ve really asked Jasmine to step it up this
year,” said Timchal. “She is a very unselfish
player and is always looking to keep the ball moving, but we wanted
her to look for her shot and she is doing a great job of
finishing.”

“Our game plan today was to go hard to the goal,” said
DePompeo. “We were a little tired after Friday night,
but we wanted to come out and play hard. I feel great right
now about being 3-0, but we have a lot of tough games coming
up.”

Navy has given up just 17 goals in the first three games and
Timchal pointed out that the return of junior defender Kierstin
King (Upperco, Md.), who injured her knee last year against
American and missed the rest of the season, is a big reason the
Mids have been so good on defense.

“Kierstin is our leader back there and we really missed her
last year after she got hurt,” said Timchal. “She
is playing great right now and it’s great to have her back in
the lineup.”

King recorded two ground balls and won two draw controls in
today’s game.

The Mids will play two more games next week, playing host to Bryant
(0-1) on Friday at 4:00 p.m. and High Point (1-1) on Sunday at 12
noon.

“We set up the schedule so we would get used to playing twice
in a three day stretch, because that is the format of the Patriot
League Tournament,” said Timchal. “We wanted our
players to get used to playing in that second game with very little
rest.”